How to Find the Best Kitchen Sink

Not everyone is concerned about finding and buying the best kitchen sink. When you were a kid, you most likely didn’t really think about your kitchen sink at all. It’s just a place where you placed dirty plates and glasses. It’s where the water goes when you washed your hands. It’s just there, and it doesn’t seem important at all.

But when you get older, you get a special appreciation of what a good sink offers. Can you imagine not having a kitchen sink at all? Without it, you’d have to go outside to wash your hands and your fruits and vegetables. You won’t be able to get a quick spray on your plates and glasses.

But not all kitchen sinks are the same. They have different areas and depths, and they can be made from different materials. They can even have different extra features. Not all kitchen sinks can suit your particular needs. Even its look will affect the overall kitchen interior design. All these reasons should convince you to take some time aside to figure out just what the best kitchen sink is for you.

To help with that, we can help point out the considerations you have to factor in when you choose a kitchen sink. We also offer best kitchen sink reviews, along with some other information that can help you decide which one suits your needs.

What to Look For when Buying a Kitchen Sink

To help you decide on the best kitchen sink for you, these factors should be kept in mind:

The number of basins

This is perhaps one of the more basic factors you need to think about. How many basins do you really need? You can have a basic single sink with a faucet, but you can have 2 basins. With these, you can even make do with a single faucet if that faucet can swivel. Some sinks have 3 basins, but then for these most part these are commercial grade kitchen sinks typically used for restaurants.

The dimensions

Just how large do you want your sink to be? Large sinks can pre to be more convenient, but smaller ones are more accessible and can fit better in a small kitchen. You also need to think about the depth of the sink.

The type

There are actually many different types of kitchen sinks. There’s the farmhouse sink, which offers a vintage vibe. You have the undermount sink that hangs from a countertop instead of being supported by the countertop. You may see bar sinks that can function as a small sink for entertaining areas or as a secondary sink in your kitchen. Sinks can have square edges or rounded edges. Then there are the vessel sinks that are basically modern versions of the wash basin.

The materials used

Porcelain is perhaps the most common as the sinks made from porcelain are durable and pretty. Other kitchen sinks feature stainless steel. This is quite durable, though they do show water spots and they may need a bit of maintenance. Other materials include copper, granite, fireclay, acrylic, resins, and natural stone. Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Removable inserts.

These can be racks for dishes, utensils, and dishcloths. They can be very convenient, though they add to the price.

Product Reviews

​With the important factors in mind, just which kitchen sinks are the best? You can start your search with these excellent options:

Kraus KHU100-30

When you’re looking for a kitchen sink, it’s good to start your search with a reputable brand. That means you should really take a look at the Kraus kitchen sink lineup, as this brand is renowned for its excellent products.

This model is actually available in 26-inch and 28-inch models, but your best bet is to just go for the 30-inch model instead. Whether you’re upgrading your current kitchen countertop or you’re building a new home, this sink will work very well in your kitchen.

Since this is deep and large, you won’t have any trouble putting in your largest kitchen ware. Even a 12-quart stockpot will fit right in. a large party won’t be a problem either, since it can fit up to 30 dinner plates without going over the basin. The depth of the basin also helps in containing the splashing, so your apron won’t have to do heavy duty in protecting your outfit.

This sink may look deceptively simple, but it’s actually been handcrafted to ensure quality. It uses heavy duty 16-gauge stainless steel. This is actually T304 stainless steel with just enough carbon that properly balances strength, corrosion resistance, and ductility. It’s extremely durable and can resist having dents either. It also comes with a limited lifetime guarantee.

Now you may think that the kitchen can get noisy with the plates and the stainless steel in constant contact, but that’s not so. That’s because Kraus put in what they call their NoiseDefend, which involves having more than 80% of the base of the sink covered by super-thick rubber. The rubber helps to absorb the sound so the resulting noise is considerably reduced.

The drainage isn’t a problem either. Its design has been optimized for highly efficient drainage. Water doesn’t pool in the bottom of the basin as there are channel grooves in the sink.

This comes with plenty of accessories, and they include a 3-piece basket strainer, a bottom grid, and a dish towel made from 100% cotton. You even get a utility bag for all these stuff. These accessories also include the installation instructions and template, along with the mounting hardware and a user’s manual.

Zuhne Modena Undermount Deep Single Bowl 32 x 19

The Zuhne Modena Undermount Kitchen Sink actually comes in 8 different sizes, but the 32 x 19-inch is the largest and deepest. If you have the space for such a size and you tend to wash large pots and lots of produce, then you may want to go with this humungous size.

This is one of the most popular kitchen sinks in the world, and it is extremely well-regarded by just about everyone who’s bought it. This largest size is certainly spacious, as the internal space measures 30 by 17 by 10 inches. The manual and the CAD are all available online, and you don’t even have to buy the kitchen sink to get them.

It’s not just about the size, of course. It’s how people use it, and they find that it works very well indeed. It’s simply a solid piece of work, and to confirm its durability it also comes with a solid guarantee. The solid stainless steel used here is resistant to dents and it is surgical-grade. It complies with US and Canadian codes and it uses nontoxic components.

Noise may be an issue with a sink like this, but that’s not true for this particular model either. It uses insulation technology that makes it among the quietest (if not the quietest) sink in the market today. It uses pads that are twice the thickness of the noise-proofing pads used by other brands, plus they’re on 90% of the sink’s outer body. This insulation even helps in protecting the sink cabinet from condensate damage.

Finally, you get the accessories you need with your kitchen sink. For the installation you get the manual, the cutout template, and mounting clips. It’s accompanied by a 3-piece strainer, along with a bottom grid that prevents scratches for the surface of the sink. They even threw in an extremely absorbent towel.

It’s perhaps the quietest sink in the market.

It’s huge.

It uses premium surgical-grade stainless steel.

It’s easy enough to install with the necessary accessories as part of the purchase.

Kraus KHU100-32

We’ve already mentioned the Kraus KHU100-30 earlier on this article, right? Now this has the very same features, except for the fact that it’s 32 inches wide. That’s the main difference, and it can be the crucial difference.

What if you work with large pots and you need to wash them on the kitchen sink? If that’s the case, wouldn’t you want some space to enable you to put the pit in the basin more easily? The larger space also accommodates more of the smaller stuff like fruits and veggies if you want to clean them in the sink.

You can clean those veggies in the basin because it uses a commercial-grade finish. Again, this also has as the 16-gauge T304 steel as material for the body. It has a very deep basin with NoiseDefend technology, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

You also get the 3-piece basket strainer, the bottom grid, the cotton dish towel, and a utility bag for all these accessories. The installation shouldn’t trouble your plumber as it comes with the mounting hardware along with the installation template and instructions.

It uses durable and dent-resistant stainless steel with a commercial-grade finish.

It’s quiet.

The basin is very spacious.

Drainage goes smoothly.

It’s easy to install and maintain.

You’ll have no worries about the durability as it’s guaranteed for a lifetime of use.

It may not be too easy to differentiate between the Kraus KHU and the Kraus KBU kitchen sinks, because they tend to have the same tech and features. However, a closer look shows you that this model has rounded corners, so it seems to have a nicer aesthetic. It makes cleaning a bit easier as well.

It’s also easy to clean because of the commercial-grade satin finish. For many, it does look nice and elegant, at least for a sink.

There’s also no doubt that this is a really roomy basin. The 31.5-inch model offers the most space in the KBU lineup, with a 10-depth to match the nice wide dimensions. You cans tack up to 24 dinner plates inside the basin.

Kraus does like to incorporate their topnotch technology into their premium kitchen sinks. That’s why its features should by now be familiar to you if you’ve read the other Kraus reviews on this article. There’s the use of the T304 stainless steel, soundproofing technology, and the lifetime assurance. There’s the stainless steel grid to prevent scratching on the basin surface, and the stainless steel basket strainer that keeps debris from getting into your drainpipe.

Kraus KBU22 32 inch Undermount 50/50 Double Bowl

Now we come to something different. The main difference between this mode and the others we’ve mentioned earlier is that this comes with a double bowl. They both have the same size, so you can use either one.

Having a double sink makes things go a lot faster when you do lots of tasks at the kitchen sink. You can rinse more fruits and veggies at once, and you have more space for dinner plates.

The double sink also gets you double the accessories. This means you have 2 grids to protect each basin, and you have 2 basket strainers to keep the drainpipe from clogging.

Kraus again put in all their excellent features into this model. You have the commercial-grade finish that’s easy to clean, and you have the rounded edges for each basin. The stainless steel used is tough and durable, plus it resists corrosion. You get the padding that absorbs the sounds so that putting stuff inside the basin doesn’t cause an awful ruckus. There’s also the Kraus limited lifetime guarantee.

Kraus KHU101-23 23 inch Undermount

Do you really need a large sink? It’s a serious question, especially when you just use the sink and faucet to mainly wash your hands and produce. You also may just need a place to store the dirty dishes. In fact, you may not even have a large enough kitchen countertop to accommodate a huge kitchen sink.

So what do you do? Well, you just get a small sink instead. It’s not that this is overly small either. It measures 23 inches long and 18 inches wide, and it’s 10 inches deep. That’s still a deep basin, with enough space for regular pots and pans along with plates.

Just because it’s small doesn’t mean that Kraus skimped on the quality either. This is still part of the KHU series, and it’s fantastic. It uses the premium-grade T304 16-gauge stainless steel that’s durable and scratch resistant. The premium satin finish looks great, and it’s resistant to dents.

You won’t have to worry about noisy kitchen sink tasks. You have especially thick rubber pads absorbing the sound and there’s Stone Guard undercoating too. The pads cover 80% of the kitchen sink base. It’s been designed for super-efficient drainage. You have the various accessories like the strainer and the bottom grid, and the guarantee is terrific.

Kraus KBU12 23 inch

Cleaning the sink around the sides is easier when you have rounded edges, isn’t it? That’s what you get when you get the Kraus KBU12 23 inch. The KBU series comes with rounded edges, and aside from the easier cleaning it also looks somewhat more charming than just regular square edges.

It is 23 inches long and 17.5 inches wide, and the depth is at a good 9 inches. It looks great, and its “not so big” size doesn’t mean that it’s inferior. It still has the premium qualities of the other KBU series kitchen sinks.

You have the T304 stainless steel, the soundproofing, the extra accessories like the bottom grid and the strainer, and the terrific guarantee. It may be smaller than usual, but it’s the opposite of terrible.

It looks good with the undermount clean look and satin finish.

The rounded edges make it easier to clean.

It uses tough stainless steel.

It’s not noisy at all.

It comes with a cast-iron assurance that it’ll be replaced if something goes wrong.

Kraus KHU103-33 33 inch Undermount

Lengthwise, this is the longest of the KHU series featured here on this list. But the main difference here is that this offers 2 basins. It also comes with a 60-40 basin configuration. This means that one basin is 1.5 times bigger than the smaller one. Both basins are 17 inches wide, but the bigger one is 16.9 inches long while the other is 12.9 inches long.

Again, this offers you the other outstanding features of the KHU series. It’s made with the vaunted T-3-4 stainless steel, and it’s even been handcrafted. The finish adds to the resistance against rust and corrosion. It’s quiet to work with it as rubber pads at the base dampen the sound of your plates hitting the sink bottom.

That sink bottom has grooves to channel the water more efficiently so you don’t have pooling water at the bottom. You also get strainers and bottom grids for the 2 basins, and there’s a great guarantee.

Ruvati RVM4350 Undermount

Just in case you think this list is made up entirely of Kraus kitchen sinks, you get this RVM4350 Undermount from Ruvati. This offers you 2 basins, and that’s not the only unique aspect to this kitchen sink.

The divider between the basins is 3 inches lower, so you have greater clearance space when you’re moving your plates from one basin to another. The basins each measure 14.4 by 17 inches, with a depth of 8.5 inches. The drain measures 3.5 inches so that’s good for any garbage disposal.

It looks great, as the rim is brushed and finished just like the sink interior. This lets you install it as an undermount or flushmount. The brushed satin finish is artisan-grade, and it’s easy to clean. That’s especially true with the rounded edges.

The soundproofing is quite ample. That’s because you have rubber pads at the base of the sink and around all its sides. The pads also help in providing thermal insulation against condensation.

You get the cutout template and mounting brackets to make the installation easier. Other extras include rinse grids for the bottom and basket strainers too. The sink meets US and Canadian plumbing standards, and the durability is reliable. It comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Kraus KHF200-33 33-inch Farmhouse Apron

Yes, we’re ending this list with another Kraus kitchen sink. This isn’t like the other Kraus sinks mentioned before. This comes with a farmhouse design, so even with the stainless steel its configuration and shape makes it more apt for rustic or antique stately homes. It’s even been handcrafted.

Aside from the looks of it, there’s also the size of this particular model. It measures 32⅞ inches long and 20¾ inches wide. It offers a deep basin at 10 inches. It can be installed in 3 ways.

This also comes with all the other fantastic innovations and advanced features that built up the Kraus popularity and reputation. It uses the premium T-304 16-gauge stainless steel that’s known for its durability. You have superior noise proofing and rounded edges for easier cleaning. Drainage is smoother because of the grooves at the bottom. The finish looks fantastic.

What Are the Top Kitchen Sink Brands?

It helps when you limit your options to the best kitchen sink brands, as their wares tend to be of higher quality. Some of the brands you should consider include:

Kraus. No list of kitchen sink brands will be complete without a mention of Kraus, so let’s just mention it first. They offer a very diverse range of kitchen sinks that should fit many needs and kitchen aesthetics. They tend to combine numerous functions with stylish looks, and their sinks can last for a very long time. They even often come with a terrific proof of quality, while the reputation of their customer support is topnotch.

Zuhne. This brand produces many types of sinks, from single and 2-basin sinks to economy sinks. They use food-grade or surgical solid stainless steel in their sinks, and they also have a lifetime guarantee on all their products. Despite the Zuhnë name, they’re actually based in Houston, Texas.

Ruvati. This brand is based in the US and it has manufacturing facilities here, and also in Spain and China. It’s a new brand as it was lunched just recently in 2009, and they’re quite conscious about not harming the environment. They add eco-friendly features to their sinks, such as using 80% recycled stainless steel for their stainless steel sinks. The typical stainless steel product uses only 60% recycled steel. They’ve also earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

FAQs

​Let’s tackle a few questions about kitchen sinks:

How are kitchen sinks installed?

The best and simplest answer is that you call a plumber who does it for you. In fact, you should consult with your plumber first as they can advise you on which sinks can fit in best with your countertop.

Of course, you can DIY even though that carries a risk that you’d DIY incorrectly. Plenty of videos can be found online which can demonstrate how to install your particular kitchen sink. Many of the top brands come with the appropriate mounting hardware, and they also have precise installation instructions.

Why have porcelain kitchen sinks remain popular?

That’s because it’s traditional, and many people like the familiar look of porcelain sinks. Also, the material is durable, and it can come in many designs and colors. The base material of porcelain is glass, after all.

However, there have been many people looking for alternative materials because porcelain can chip as it contains glass material. Also, porcelain can eventually develop those unsightly black marks.

So what has become the most popular alternative?

Many people who have made the switch from porcelain kitchen sinks have shown a preference for stainless steel. Now this is extremely durable, and it’s also easy to shape. That means you can have it designed to avoid pools of water at the bottom.

On the other hand, it can be annoyingly noisy when you put pots and plates in the basin. You may also have to constantly wipe it down to get rid of water spots.

What about copper?

Some premium kitchen sinks are made of copper. They’re a bit more expensive, but then they’re uncommon and they offer several advantages. Copper doesn’t rust. Also, it’s been found that most bacteria just can’t survive for long on a copper surface.

However, you have to be ready for the color of the copper to change over time. Copper is extremely reactive, so eventually it will develop a patina. You can end up with some dark or green spots eventually. Polishing the copper can prevent this issue, but then your polish inhibits the anti-microbial property of the copper surface.

Are granite and granite composite materials good for kitchen sinks?

For many, granite composite materials can actually be a superb alternative. A high quality granite composite sink is more durable than the standard porcelain sink. It can be made to be resistant to chips and scratches.

This material also comes with a somewhat speckled design, and that works to camouflage any water spots. It’s also easy and cheap to maintain a sink like this, as most of the time you just need a mild cleanser. Just don’t to clean it regularly, as hard tap water can contain minerals and dyes that can react with the copper to result in stains.

Are there acrylic kitchen sinks?

Indeed there are, and they’re actually reasonably priced for the most part. They’re also lightweight and they often come with a nice finish. The smooth surface can be sanded in case it gets scratched.

On the other this material doesn’t always react well to hot water.

What about natural stone sinks?

Yes, they’re available as well. They fit in nicely with period homes and rustic houses. They’re often gorgeous, and their natural state offers a timeless vibe. The usual stone is typically soapstone.

This can be expensive though, and you need special cleaning agents for the stone. Using the wrong cleaning agent can mar the stone. In addition, the stone can be damaged by chips.

Are stone sinks the same as “solid surface” sinks?

No, they’re different. Solid surface refers to the use of minerals and resins. It’\s very durable, and they can be repaired. If it gets scratched, you can just sand and polish the stone.

However, fixing most damages to the solid surface usually will require the attention of a professional, sot the repair bill can get costly.

Final Words

You have to think about your kitchen sink if you’re building or upgrading to a new kitchen. You have to think about how it looks and how large and deep it has to be. You need to consider its durability, and the noise it will create when you’re putting kitchenware in. You also should check out how easy it is to clean.

Check out our list of recommendations, and you’ll find that your search for the best kitchen sink will be off to a very good start. Pick one that suits your needs, and you’ll have a much better time in the kitchen.

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